Environmental authorities issued electronically under the EP Act remain valid.

Authorities issued by automated systems under the Nature Conservation Act are now lawful from their original date.

It is a criminal offence to give false, misleading or incomplete information when applying for a Nature Conservation Act authority.

The administering authority must automatically approve standard environmental applications if the applicant is a registered suitable operator.

For mining lease applications, the administering authority must approve the application on standard conditions unless a valid submission was made to change them.

The Environment Minister can decide which authorities are issued or renewed automatically via electronic systems.

Electronic systems cannot be used for certain authorities unless the chief executive approves it.

The government can still issue penalty infringement notices for old environmental protection orders and clean-up notices.

Legal proceedings for environmental offences now include actions taken through infringement notices.

People who give false or misleading documents to authorised officers under the Nature Conservation Act can be penalised, even if the documents were sent electronically.

If the administering authority fails to decide on a mining lease application within the required timeframe, the application is automatically approved on standard conditions.

Environmental authority holders must take all reasonable steps to make sure their activities meet the required eligibility criteria.

The chief executive must approve the use of any electronic system that automatically issues environmental authorities for standard applications.

The Governor in Council can make regulations that let electronic systems automatically issue, change, or cancel certain nature conservation authorities.